Stakeholders in the tourism industry in the ||Kharas Region say the 2008 National Tourism Policy needs to be revised to respond to the current needs.

They said this on the sidelines of a two-day consultative workshop at Keetmanshoop.

Facilitated by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), the workshop gathers public input to determine the relevance of the current policy.

"The policy that dates back to 2008 is in the line of renewal; conditions change, people who visit change, and local and different development takes place. One must keep in mind that it needs to be updated. Challenges that we have ||Kharas region is a very big area, and people really don't know the attractions at their doorstep, so that needs to be addressed. People should become aware of tourism and that place's role, and, as mentioned, crime is becoming a real issue, which leads to negative comments in the world," stated participant Berend Rooimer. 

Another Pathana Negongo adds, "It has been outdated now for 18 years; that's before the pandemic, that's before AI, and that's before virtual tourism. So if we include that, we can make sure our markets are up to date for the tourists that we have, whether local or international, to include."

Matheus Mukosho in his contribution adds, "How do we make sure as a country we give priority to the benefit of the tourism sector? Also, in terms of sustainability, I think that was one of the aspects that have been neglected in the past because we want the industry for 50 to 100 years. That's why sustainability is emphasised. And thirdly, in terms of cooperation and coordination, government institutions and the private sector have been working in solace, but the policy is about unifying. How do we work together to address the needs and challenges within the tourism sector?"